Washington Post Examines National Weight-Loss Effort Targeting Black Community

The Washington Post on Saturday examined the 50 Million Pound Challenge, which seeks to reduce obesity and encourage healthy lifestyles in the black community. Two of every three men, four out of five women and one in five children in the black community are overweight, according to the challenge's Web site. Fitness expert and physician Ian Smith said he began the program last year to provide a "national platform" for healthier living among blacks (Thomas-Lester, Washington Post, 10/4). Smith said that the campaign's challenge for 50 million pounds of weight loss can be met if 25% of the 20 million blacks in the U.S. who are considered overweight or obese each lost 10 pounds (Kaiser Health Disparities Report, 4/5/07). More than 690,000 people across the nation have joined the challenge since April 2007, and... [read full story]